The Republican journal., 1887-12-29
Christmas in Mexico.

SINGULAR FESTIVITIES, CONTINUING NINE
DAYS. THE "POsADAS,' TIE ''SACIMIEN-
TOS" AND THE "OLLA." THE JOURNEY OF
MARY AND JOSEPH INTO BETHLEHAM. AND
THE BIRTH OF TIE CHRIST CHILD. AN
INVITATION TO BE GOD-MOTIIER TO TIE
INFANT. A REMARKABLE MIXTURE OF Fun
AND RELIGIOUS FANCY.
Correspondence of the Journal
CITY OF MEXICo, Dec. 10TH In Montezuma's
country the celebration of Christmas-tide begins
the 25th. Nine consecutive nights are given up
to social reunions of a asem-reIisious character.
including dancing and late suppers; OH the last
eve, christmas eve,) everybody attends mid
night mass, and afterward feels in duty bound
to visit nine different churches and spend few
minutes in prayer at each. Therefore Until
daybreak on the 25th the streets are filed with
people, and SO it happens that when Jewellers
and worshipers have retired to their homes to
seek needed rest, Christmas itself is the most
quiet and uninteresting Of all days in the Mex
lean year.
But there is religion and romance, fun and
festiyty enough in the nine preceding days
or rather in the nights-to amply atone for Il
dull Christmas. This year those queer Yuletide
doings termed "the Posadas' are unusually ami
mated, and in every patrician casa and parvenuc
jocol are joyful family reunions, while invita-
tions to informal balls are many deep per
diem that one cannot attend them ALL
THE PosADAs
are not of Spanish origin. as generally supposed,
priests for the instruction of the Mexican III
dians. The Fathers aforesaid found the dark
encu minds Of the conquered AZtecs. fresh from
their grotesque doEworship, unable to grasp
the Christian Idea unless it We're presented in
some tangible spectacular form; and this ac-
which crept into Roman Catholicism in Mexi-
can churches. For many years, however. the
church has not particularly encouraged this an
tique mode of celebrating the birth of Christ
but still the p0sdd0s are kept up. principally
now i'll private houses, as Il harmless amuSe-
ment for servants and children, much as the
otl-time fiction of Santa Claus is perpctuatc;l
in the United States.
The fetes are designed to represent the Nir-
gin Mary and her spouse, Joseph, OIL their
journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. whittier
they Vent just before Christ was born, in ac-
cordance with the decree of Caesar Augustus
that all should come out of Gailec to be in
scrbed for taxation From the proudest Cas-
lillian dame down to the humb!eSt Indian moth
er. every woman in this broad land provides
to the utmost of her ability fer the nine fe>taI
nights preceding the anniversary of our SAY
iour's alvent; and during that time the dis
tinctions Of caste are comparatively obliterated
and poems and aristocrats mingle in manner
truly patliarchal.
An accurate description of the po>alas is
impossible, for to thoroughly appreciate them
one must be an inmate of native casa, in this
summer country where fruits and flowers are
tlouri>hing Il, their best in the balmy air of
December,-and moreover must be on terms of
friendly sympathy with these passionate yet
superficial, these dreamy. poetical and alto
gether charming people. l have witnessed the
fete in the houses Of the rich and the novels of
the poor, and though when set down in cod
type they seem like silly child'S play and SUI
per>titious mummery. i assure you that the ac-
tual scenic effect. combined with the spirit Of
the season and the loving carne.tncss of the
makes the performance one by no
means to be despised. Let me give you a
prOsaic
OUTLINE OF THE PICTURE,
the glamour of romance and the halo Of reig-
ious sentiment you must till in for Yourself.
The hacienda mansion wherein witnessed
my first pOsddu contained so many rooms that
been a weariSome task. During this sacred
season, when children and grandchildren, rela-
tives even to remote cousins. and friends and
neighbors We're assembled, there We're proba-
bly, not less than four hundred people. including
the servants, lodged within the rambling, moss
grown walls; and yet there was no appearance
of crowding or confusion. BY the way, one of
the most true and realistic descriptions Of
Mexican hacienda life may be found in RD-
mona, that Incompatible book by the late
Helen Hunt jackson, in her picture of Sonora
Moreno'S abode.
In the casa of which l speak Il Jrancord, or
portable wooden platform, had been prepared
with moss, pasteboard and green bough>, to
the mountainous road to Bethlehem;
and Oh this mimic roadway was placed figure
of the Virgin, seated on donkey. while Joseph
walked by her side with staff and scrip in
hand, and an angel with outsprcad wings gli,i-
ed before them. The images, borrowed from
the village sanctuary were appropriately
dressed for the occasion, and in the little
wooden donkey l recognized an old acquain-
Sundays, figuring in Christ's ''triumphal pro-
ceSSion."
THE BRANCARD,
with its by no means night load, was borne
aloft on the shoulders of six Maids of Honor.
all dressed in white. with long white wells and
crowns of lilies. The "Attcndants OF the Nir-
GIN as they are called, were accompanied by
six torch-bearers, followed by musicians who
played spirited accompaniment to the litany.
Then came the heads of the family, parents
and grandparents, next the guests and child
ren, and lastly the servants-a lengthy process
sion you may be sure, each person carrying a
lighted candle.
In this order we trayersed the corridors and
apartments of the great caNe-the
line of march having been previously marked
by arches and decorations OF green branches,-
all chanting litany to the Virgin. the re-
sponSes (Ord pro nobis) being made by the
children. "PilgrimS," we called ourselves. and
as we passed from room to room. several hum
tlred voices singing in unison with varying ac-
cents-Spanish, Aztec, French. German and
Englisll-the chant yelling up in sonorouS
notes or dying away in drge-like strains, faint
ly echoed by the tail of the procession from
far away corridors, or ringing in the lofty
vaulted ceilings, the torches now flashing now
and growing dim, the effect was fam
tastic in the extreme.
When the Pilgrims have nine times complet
ed the appointed circuit. they halt at the door
of room which is supposed to represent the
residence of a Bethlehemte family. and he who
Joseph raps loudly with his staff
and Graves shelter for the night. TO play that
role successfully, the gentleman must be bless
ed with good tenor voice, the petition being
in Spanish verse, set to appropriate music. The
Bethlehemites from within respond in chorus
'We cannot admit you: yc are strangers to us
90 to the inn"
'But the porddo (inn is full" urges Joseph.
the tenor. Il pray you to at least grant shelter
to mi eSpOSd (my wife), for the night is dark
and cold, she has journed far and is aweary."
The dwellers in Bethlehem remain obdurate;
Joseph, in an impressive recitation.
bewals the indignities to which
THE BLESSED MARY
is subjected, and bitterly laments that she who
70 nf fha Ion faI
Messiah is now denied shelter from the storm.
Then the Bethlehemites cautiously open the
door little way and peerng out, appear to
listen. They grow interested, and soon one
steps forth and asks, in song, "Who is this
Mary of whom We speak!'
That immaculate virgin whom God hath hon
ored above all women; that Mary mentioned
by the prophets who predicted "A virgin
shall bear a son, who shall be called manuel,
and this Messiah will make atonement for us.
He will be accepted as a sacrifice for our sins
chants Joseph in reply.
Then the Bethlehemites throw wide their
doors and invite the Holy Family and all their
Pilgrims to enter, themselves carrying the vir-
gin in their arms, and fervently congratulating
one another, while the plair tive music gives
way to loud hosannahS.
The religious part of the parade being now
rockets are set off from the patio,
or inner court yard, to signal ''the attack upon
the olla"-a sport which constitutes the great
est attraction for the boys OF the party.
is big earthern jar, or vase, covered with tin
sci and tissue paper and bedecked with flowers
and ribbons, filled to the brim with bon-bons
and other goodies" 1t is suspended by a cord
frnN rah or hp alI hn Uh